While serving as a member of my board of education, I will accept the responsibility to improve education. To that end I will:

• Remember that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students attending the public schools;
• Obey the laws of Ohio and the United States;
• Respect the confidentiality of privileged information;
• Recognize that as an individual board member I have no authority to speak or act for the board;
• Work with other members to establish effective board policies;
• Delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the superintendent and staff;
• Encourage ongoing communications among board members, the board, students, staff, and the community;
• Render all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment rather than succumbing to the influence of individuals or special interest groups;
• Make every effort to attend all board meetings;
• Become informed concerning the issues to be considered at each meeting;
• Improve my boardmanship by studying educational issues and by participating in in-service programs;
• Support the employment of staff members based on qualifications and not as a result of influence;
• Cooperate with other board members and administrators to establish a system of regular and impartial evaluations of all staff;
• Avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof;
• Refrain from using my board position for benefit of myself, family members or business associates;
• Express my personal opinions but, once the board has acted, accept the will of the majority.

Adopted by the OSBA Delegate Assembly November 11, 1991